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The Aspen Global Change Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change. Our work includes interdisciplinary research, education and outreach, and collaboration with resource managers and policy-makers. Together we strive to facilitate scientific discussion for the betterment of society and natural systems, while promoting practical solutions to the challenges of today's changing Earth systems.

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The Early Detection of Global Change

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Aspen CO

August 01, 1993 to August 14, 1993

This workshop explored early detection systems as a means of identifying and responding to large scale changes in Earth systems caused by human activities. Participants sought to document Earth system changes that are occurring on a global scale, differentiate human factors from natural factors of change, and establish links between driving factors of change and systemic responses. The role of remote sensing as a key component of change detection was a key part of the discussion.
Keywords: ecosystems; human interactions; land use change; climate variability and change, remote sensing

Workshop Chairs

Session Description:

Overview & Relevance:
The definition of research on early detection of global environmental change is research conducted for the purpose of documenting changes in varied Earth System parameters that are consistent with the expected/predicted consequences of natural and human-induced changes in global forcing.

The intent of early detection research is to:
1. Document the earth system changes that area result of processes that are global in nature
2. Differentiate those changes due to human-induced forcing factors from those due to natural forcing factors
3. Establish the causal linkages between the changes in forcing factors and Earth system responses

To be consistent with the goals of the US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) the research should thus encompass both detection and attribution of the cause of observed changes in the earth system.

Early detection research may involve the use of existing records (e.g., historic climate records) to identify human-induced signal of change in forcing factors. It may also involve the development and implementation of new ground and space-based sensors (e.g., EOS) to augment and extend existing Earth system records for the purpose of documenting expected changes in the future. In either case, , early detection research in the USGCRP is considered focused if its primary intent involves documenting global environmental changes that are a consequence of natural and human-induced changes. Forcing factors for expected changes must be global in nature. The impact of these changes should be measurable at the local, regional, and global scales. Strategies for detecting changes may be applied at all of these scales.

Walter Orr Roberts Public Lecture

August 05, 1993

Presented by:

The enactment of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 is hailed as a success for international cooperation in general, and environmental policy in particular. In this talk, Dr. Peter Thacher, a retired UN diplomat, explains the circumstances surrounding the identification of the ozone hole problem and the subsequent agreement to curb CFC emissions, the leading contributor to ozone depletion. Dr. Thacher argues that there are lessons to be learned from this case-study that can be applied to future cases of cooperation on environmental issues.

August 12, 1993

Presented by:

The twentieth century brought about sweeping environmental, economic, social, and political change. Each type of change was itself substantial, but collectively these changes collaborated to produce unprecedented impacts on the Earth and the human way of life. In this lecture, Nay Htun, Deputy Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, addresses these changes and places them in the context of global environmental change. Dr. Htun describes the forces negatively affecting the global environment and talks about possible solutions to these impacts.

Date:

Thursday, August 5, 1993

Details

Author/s:

The enactment of the Montreal Protocol in 1987 is hailed as a success for international cooperation in general, and environmental policy in particular. In this talk, Dr. Peter Thacher, a retired UN diplomat, explains the circumstances surrounding the identification of the ozone hole problem and the subsequent agreement to curb CFC emissions, the leading contributor to ozone depletion. Dr. Thacher argues that there are lessons to be learned from this case-study that can be applied to future cases of cooperation on environmental issues.

Date:

Thursday, August 12, 1993

Details

Author/s:

The twentieth century brought about sweeping environmental, economic, social, and political change. Each type of change was itself substantial, but collectively these changes collaborated to produce unprecedented impacts on the Earth and the human way of life. In this lecture, Nay Htun, Deputy Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, addresses these changes and places them in the context of global environmental change. Dr. Htun describes the forces negatively affecting the global environment and talks about possible solutions to these impacts.

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Aspen Global Change Institute

Mission

The Aspen Global Change Institute is an independent nonprofit dedicated to furthering scientific understanding of Earth systems and global environmental change in service of society. Our work includes interdisciplinary research, education and outreach, and collaboration with resource managers and policy-makers. Together we strive to facilitate scientific discussion for the betterment of society and natural systems, while promoting practical solutions to the challenges of today's changing Earth systems.